How will your dental hygienist education stack up?

If you want to study dental hygiene at home, you should be aware of how your education will compare to the education available elsewhere in the US. Below is some information to help you get started. The US has 334 brick and mortar dental hygienist schools.

Top Schools

In 2010, the top schools in the country with dental hygienist programs were:

1. University of Southern California - located in Los Angeles, California
2. New York University - located in New York, New York
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Student Demographics

In 2010 in the US, 7,566 students graduated with degrees in dental hygiene. Of these students, 255 graduated from certificate programs in dental hygiene, 7,278 graduated from undergraduate programs in dental hygiene, and 33 graduated from graduate-level programs in dental hygiene.

Academics

Students can pursue education in dental hygiene at the following levels:

During the course of their dental hygienist education, students can hope to gain the following skills and/or knowledge:

• Teamwork
• Active Listening
• Written and Verbal Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Psychology

Cost

The average tuition at dental hygienist schools around the nation was $12,169 per year in 2010. The highest tuition was charged by the following dental hygienist schools:

1. University of Southern California - located in Los Angeles, California, students paid $39,183
2. New York University - located in New York, New York, students paid $38,765
3. University of the Pacific - located in Stockton, California, students paid $32,230

The lowest tuition was charged by the following dental hygienist schools:

1. Pearl River Community College - located in Poplarville, Mississippi, students paid $1,880
2. University of Wyoming - located in Laramie, Wyoming, students paid $3,726
3. University of Louisiana at Lafayette - located in Lafayette, Louisiana, students paid $4,016

How will your dental hygienist job compare?

A large number of dental hygiene majors work as dental hygienists after graduation. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 177,520 dental hygienists working in the US in 2010. The states with the largest populations of dental hygienists are:

1. California - 18,050 Dental Hygienists
2. Texas - 10,860 Dental Hygienists
3. New York - 9,710 Dental Hygienists

Projected Growth

The projected growth for dental hygienists is expected to be the fastest in the following states:

1. Utah - 54%
2. North Carolina - 42%
3. South Carolina - 37%

Salary

A dental hygienist in the US earns $65,242 per year on average. However, the salary for a dental hygienist can greatly vary based on factors such as location, professional associations and certifications or your boss. Salaries for dental hygienists range from less than $16,240 per year to more than $151,630 per year. Dental hygienists in the following states make the highest salaries on average:

1. Alaska - $90,740 per year
2. California - $90,220 per year
3. Washington State - $87,810 per year

The following states have the lowest average salaries for dental hygienists:

1. Alabama - $43,360 per year
2. West Virginia - $48,990 per year
3. Mississippi - $50,100 per year